There's one reason that full-time public office jobs should be well paid - it allows ordinary citizens the option of taking the job without going bankrupt. We don't want rich people to be the only people who can afford to take the position.
(I'm ignoring the costs of campaigning, okay? Another rant.)
There are a lot of other public office jobs that have salaries tied directly to the President's -- they may only be able to make up to 75% of what the President makes. When that percentage is smaller, it can drive good, qualified people away from public office because they can make more in the private sector.
Of course, you could quit your job and live comfortably in DC for much, much less than $400,000. If you got rid of the direct salary ties, I don't think it'd be a big deal to lower it a bit... especially when you think about the income from book deals and speaking tours afterward.
Maybe the salary should be tied to the individual's net worth, so if someone gets elected who isn't already filthy rich, they get the money, but the extremely wealthy have to do it pro bono.
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Date: 2005-02-09 06:48 pm (UTC)(I'm ignoring the costs of campaigning, okay? Another rant.)
There are a lot of other public office jobs that have salaries tied directly to the President's -- they may only be able to make up to 75% of what the President makes. When that percentage is smaller, it can drive good, qualified people away from public office because they can make more in the private sector.
Of course, you could quit your job and live comfortably in DC for much, much less than $400,000. If you got rid of the direct salary ties, I don't think it'd be a big deal to lower it a bit... especially when you think about the income from book deals and speaking tours afterward.
Maybe the salary should be tied to the individual's net worth, so if someone gets elected who isn't already filthy rich, they get the money, but the extremely wealthy have to do it pro bono.